Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-10-19
4 G,santic Mining Enterprise.

withou. doubt one OF the greatest
mining achievements OF modern engin-
eerinG ia the construction OF the Big
PEND Tunnel on the Feather river, sit
mated in Butte County, California
Feather river Is formed by the North,
Middle and South Forks, which rise In
the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Plumas
County. run southwestward. and unite
in Butte Co. to form the main Feather.
1t is we'll known, among gold miners,
that the richest and most productive
oold mines of California have been the
beds of rivers, and the Feather" espe-
cially has been known for years under
the name of 1.-The Golden Feather"
But the Big Bend of Feather river
whose gravel deposits have been estlma-
ted I'm value from $100, ,OOO.OOO TO $l5O,-
600 600. has hitherto baffled the skill OF
man to rob it of its treasure. This vast
amount of wealth has been guarded
and preserved for ages by the minimum
constant flow of one hundred thousand
miners inches uf water rushing through
a narrow canon of from !, 500 to z. 200
feet deep. which rendered 1t impossible
to wing-dam or fiume. Only recently
these obstacles could be overcome
through the intervention of modern en-
gineeTing skill.
There is a little stream running
through Dark Canon, which empties
into the West Branch OF the Feather
and from there into the main feather.
A tunnel was commenced In Dark
Canon. and a bore 12x16 feet drilled
through a spur OF Big Bend mountain
a distance of ,007 feet, or nearly t,oo
and one-Mfrd mules in length out TO
the mountain side of Feather River, at
the upper end of the Bend. Just be-
low where the upper end of the tunnel
taps the river a dam was constructed
which is to force the water through the
tunnel into Dark Canon, out Of which
it will flow into the West Branch, and
then into the main Feather again. This
will leave about fourteen miles of the
river bed exposed to sight during the
season of low water, which is from
seven to nine months in the year. At
the head of the tunnel six gates Of iron
and steel, II by feet, will let the wa
ter in or keep it out. In times or high
water the gates will be closed, and the
river Will run along its old bed, to be
turned out of its course and through
the tunnel at low water.
The President of the Big Bend Tun-
mel and Mining Company, and the
largest stockholder therein, is DR.. Il.
V. Pierce, who, being fully satisfied
with the feasibility of the plan from its
Inception, has with an unstinting hand
supplied the funds for the prosecution
of this enormously expensive work, and
his confidence and iiberality will soon
meet its reward.
The Doctor besides is President of
the Buffalo Loan, Trust and Safe De-
posit Company, one of the foremost
banking institutions in the city of Buff
falo. But he is perhaps best known as
President of the Worlds Dispensary
Medical Association and Invalids' Ho-
tel and Surgical Institute. This in
stitution is situated on Main and
Washington streets, Buffalo, n. Y,
having the design to furnish home to
those desiring private treatment Of the
most skilled class, especially to those
suffering from chronic and surgical
diseases. 1t is not a hospital, but a
pleasant. remedial home, furnished
with every comfort, and the most ap-
proved sanitary, medical and surgical
appliances.
There are eighteen skilled physicians
and surgeons constantly at the Hotel.
and corps of efficient and trained
nurses. The Doctor is also the In-
ventor OF several well-known medi-
cines, which are compounded at the
Worlds DIspensary. The efficacy of
these medicines is undoubtedly what
led to the idea and ultimate establish
ment of the invalids' Hotel. Very
many who were using these remedies
of DR.. Pierce's found them so benef-
cial that they began to send applica-
tions for personal treatment, and these
appeals becoming so numerous, the
Doctor concluded to erect his inyalid's
Hotel. The Big Bend Tunnel Com
pany is fortunate in having so progress
sIve man as DIR. Pierce as their Presl-
dent.